{"id":133594,"date":"2026-01-14T19:36:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-14T19:36:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/133594\/"},"modified":"2026-01-14T19:36:13","modified_gmt":"2026-01-14T19:36:13","slug":"marathon-burger-ireland-and-more-long-beach-state-of-the-city-highlights","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/133594\/","title":{"rendered":"Marathon Burger, Ireland and more Long Beach State of the City highlights"},"content":{"rendered":"

A flurry of announcements regarding tourism, job opportunities and sports were made during Mayor Rex Richardson\u2019s 2026 State of the City Address Tuesday night at the Long Beach Terrace Theater.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cA Future Built by All of Us\u201d was largely focused on ways the City will change over the next decade, expanding as a tourist destination and aerospace career hub. Richardson also announced investment plans for downtown, small businesses coming to Long Beach and 2028 Olympic news.\u00a0<\/p>\n

People shouting protests against ICE and the City\u2019s treatment of Black workers interrupted the mayor\u2019s presentation multiple times throughout the evening, which Richardson responded to by leaving the stage until they were escorted out by police.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cLong Beach will stand with our immigrant families no matter who\u2019s in the White House. Fear has been used as a governing tool before; America has seen this pattern before,\u201d Richardson said. \u201cWhen slave catchers were empowered to hunt human beings in the name of the law, it was wrong. When police dogs were unleashed as Civil Rights protestors, it was wrong. When farm workers were rounded up and silenced to protect an economy that depended on their labor, it was wrong. And if it was wrong then, it can\u2019t be right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"The State of the City Address begins with live music, singing and dancing, with lyrics focusing on being optimistic in tough times. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

\"\"Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson announced during the 2026 State of the City Address that Downtown Long Beach wil be hosting the official FIFA World Cup Fan Zone, which will be a multi-week celebration coming to Pine Ave. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"\"Protestors scream \u201cICE out of Long Beach\u201d during Mayor Rex Richardson\u2019s 2026 State of the City Address. The mayor was forced to take a break from his speech multiple times while protestors were escorted out of the theater. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"\"One of the protestors who was yelling while Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson delivered his speech is handcuffed then subsequently released after leaving the Terrace Theater on Jan. 13, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"\"Blacc Sam, the older brother of the late Nipsey Hussle, and Cordell Broadus, Snoop Dogg\u2019s son, announce Marathon Burger will be opening its third location in Long Beach on March 1. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

Here are the Signal Tribune\u2019s highlights for the 2026 State of the City Address:\u00a0<\/p>\n

Long Beach doubles down on becoming a sports city: The name of Long Beach\u2019s professional baseball team, which residents have been voting on and suggesting ideas towards since September, was decided; as was its \u201calter ego.\u201d Officially, the team is named the Long Beach Coast, but every week they will play once as their alter ego, The Regulators.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The City and team have not released data on how many people voted on the name and which name received the most votes, but the reaction at the State of the City and online has been largely negative.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

The long-awaited Belmont Pool project will make progress toward a 2028 completion. On Jan. 20, the city council will consider final approval on a plan for the project. Further cementing Long Beach as an aquatic sports destination is Speedo\u2019s decision to place its North American headquarters in the city.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Later this year, Pine Avenue will be taken over by an official FIFA World Cup Fan Zone for multiple weeks. The event is supported by a $378,000 Metro Grant.<\/p>\n

\"\"With hats laid out on the table, Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson teases the audience by picking up each hat to get their reaction on what will be the city\u2019s baseball team name. Richardson officially announced that the team name for the Long Beach professional baseball team is the Long Beach Cost, with the alter ego of The Regulators on Jan. 13, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

\"\"The ownership group of the Long Beach Coast\/Regulators says opening day will be on June 2, 2026. State of the City Address attendees on Jan. 13, 2026 received free Long Beach Coast hats. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

The Marathon continues in Long Beach: Marathon Burger, the restaurant owned by late rapper Nipsey Hussle\u2019s brother Samiel \u201cBlacc Sam\u201d Asghedom, will open a third location on Pine Avenue. From wagyu beef burgers with Fresno peppers and house-made pickles to tiger shrimp and wings, the shop will bring high-quality food with cultural significance to Long Beach.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Marathon Burger is expected to open on Pine Avenue on March 1.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Ireland calls LB home for Olympics: Long Beach will now host a third country\u2019s international team house, as Ireland\u2019s Olympic Committee chose Ovation Square event space on Pine Avenue as its home during the 2028 Olympics. Ireland will join Greece and Denmark in their Long Beach selection.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Representatives from Ireland\u2019s Olympic Committee promised to make their house a \u201cmust-see entertainment venue\u201d featuring Irish artists and constant crack (which means \u201cgood times\u201d in Ireland, they explained). Ireland will also host a youth engagement opportunity program \u201cDare to Believe,\u201d aiming to inspire youth through an interactive curriculum.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Catherine Tieman, Commercial Director at the Olympic Federation of Ireland, and Peter Sherrard, CEO of the Olympic Federation of Ireland, announce that Long Beach will host the Irish Olympic Team House during the 2028 Olympic Games on Jan. 13, 2026. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

\"\"Throughout the 2026 State of the City Address, there was three outbursts as Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson spoke to the Long Beach community on Jan. 13, 2026. Each one of those members were escorted out by Long Beach police. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune) <\/p>\n

\"\"Members of PSL (Party for Socialism and Liberation) Long Beach and the Vote Socialist campaign ask community members for signatures to get their candidates on that ballot without any charge on Jan. 13, 2026 outside the Long Beach Terrance Theater. (Samuel Chacko | Signal Tribune)<\/p>\n

Mayor calls on Port partners for downtown investment: Richardson and the Port of Long Beach will work to entice international shippers, manufacturers, logistic firms and more to establish operations, offices and headquarters in downtown Long Beach.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Downtown\u2019s vacancy rates have not recovered to pre-COVID years, and the City has been discussing how to drive traffic up in the area for years through programs like Vacancy to Vibracy and the EZ Sip pilot program that allows public consumption of alcohol within a certain area of downtown.\u00a0<\/p>\n

More aerospace jobs: Vast Space announced its fourth location in Long Beach and its largest yet, at 76,000 square feet. According to Richardson, the company employs more than 1,000 workers locally.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Richardson also announced his Acceler8 by \u201828 plan to create 4,000 new jobs in aerospace, clean technology and advanced manufacturing through a public-private partnership with a focus on providing opportunities to residents.\u00a0<\/p>\n

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